After a meeting with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, House Speaker John Boehner said there'd been "no substantive progress" -- and no "specific plan for cutting spending" from the White House.

And Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, after his own meeting with Geithner, said the administration offered no plans to protect Medicare or Social Security or significantly reduce the debt. He says the administration "took a step backward," away from consensus, and moved "significantly closer to the cliff."

Democrats say it's up to Republicans to offer a roster of spending cuts. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says, "Republicans know where we stand." He says Democrats are "still waiting for a serious offer from Republicans."

Wednesday night, President Barack Obama spoke by phone for about 15 minutes with Boehner. The House speaker says his comments reflected that conversation, as well as his meeting Thursday with the Treasury chief.